The Tea Act was passed by Parliament in 1773 so the British East India Company could ship tea to the colonies without paying taxes. Unfortunately, the colonial tea merchants still had to pay taxes and this was unfair. This also threatened their tea businesses because the British could sell their tea much cheaper. Even though the colonists could get tea at a cheaper price, they were upset because this violated their rights and took away their freedom. The colonists were very upset and decided to take a stand to show Britain they were not going to allow this unfair treatment. On December 16, 1773 , the colonists dressed up as Native Americans, went on British ships and destroyed many cartons of tea by tossing them into the Boston Harbor. In order to punish the colonists for this action, the British passed down the Coercive Acts [Intolerable Acts], which made the Boston Harbor close down. This Act put the Massachusetts government under military rule, which is also known as martial law. The Coercive Acts also stated that British troops should be given a place to live in the colonists' homes. These laws angered the colonists even more because they felt their rights as English citizens were being violated.
Timeline Tea Act- May 10, 1773 The Boston Tea Party- December 16, 1773 The Boston Port Act (Coercive Acts)- March 31, 1774 Administration of Justice Act (Coercive Acts)- May 20, 1774 Quartering Act (Coercive Acts)- June 2, 1774 The Quebec Act (Coercive Acts)- June 22, 1774 First Continental Congress- September 5, 1774 Lexington and Concord- April 19, 1775 Battle of Saratoga- September 19- October 7, 1777 Surrender at Yorktown-September 28- October 19, 1781
The Boston Tea Party/Tea Act
The Tea Act was passed by Parliament in 1773 so the British East India Company could ship tea to the colonies without paying taxes. Unfortunately, the colonial tea merchants still had to pay taxes and this was unfair. This also threatened their tea businesses because the British could sell their tea much cheaper. Even though the colonists could get tea at a cheaper price, they were upset because this violated their rights and took away their freedom. The colonists were very upset and decided to take a stand to show Britain they were not going to allow this unfair treatment. On December 16, 1773 , the colonists dressed up as Native Americans, went on British ships and destroyed many cartons of tea by tossing them into the Boston Harbor. In order to punish the colonists for this action, the British passed down the Coercive Acts [Intolerable Acts], which made the Boston Harbor close down. This Act put the Massachusetts government under military rule, which is also known as martial law. The Coercive Acts also stated that British troops should be given a place to live in the colonists' homes. These laws angered the colonists even more because they felt their rights as English citizens were being violated.
Timeline
Tea Act- May 10, 1773
The Boston Tea Party- December 16, 1773
The Boston Port Act (Coercive Acts)- March 31, 1774
Administration of Justice Act (Coercive Acts)- May 20, 1774
Quartering Act (Coercive Acts)- June 2, 1774
The Quebec Act (Coercive Acts)- June 22, 1774
First Continental Congress- September 5, 1774
Lexington and Concord- April 19, 1775
Battle of Saratoga- September 19- October 7, 1777
Surrender at Yorktown-September 28- October 19, 1781
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